Western Province Rugby welcomes CPUT into fold

Dr Chris Nhlapo, WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the local schools to use CPUT’s facilities.

In recognition of the university’s dedication to rugby development, the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) has announced the CPUT team’s admission as a fully-fledged competitor in the provincial league.

The Union made the announcement recently during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CPUT on the Bellville Campus. The agreement will see the optimal utilisation of the campus’ sporting facilities to be used by regional schools.

WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield said the signing was a great moment for the Union to announce CPUT’s promotion to the provincial league as UCT, UWC and Stellenbosch University are already in partnerships with the Union.

Wakefield said the university will become a full member of the Union with effect from January 2019 and CPUT would in future compete alongside other universities without having to be attached to another team, as was the case previously.

Wakefield congratulated Dr Chris Nhlapo on his appointment as the university’s Vice-Chancellor. He recalled a day ten years ago on which he inducted Nhlapo to the university as the then newly-appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships.

“We have the resources,” he assured CPUT. “The goal is to turn CPUT rugby into a professional sport. Thank you for allowing us to partner with you.”He urged the university to play its home matches on the Bellville Campus as he argued that rugby brings life to campus.

Nhlapo said the university is more than ready to play its matches on campus and added that the involvement of university students in sports would help undo the effects of the unrest of the last three years.